reflections on t prayer to become all g...
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REFLECTIONS ON THE PRAYER TO BECOME ALL GOOD QUALITIES1
© Malvin Artley
“Seeing that the kind, holy guru is the foundation of all good qualities, and that proper reliance on
one is the root of the path, I ask blessing to rely on them with great respect (born) of constant effort.
Understanding the rarity and great significance of this (human body) that is the wonderful basis of
an opportunity obtained just once, I ask blessing to generate uninterruptedly, all day and night,
the mind that takes up what is essential (to attain Buddhahood).
Remembering that death will swiftly destroy my wavering body and life, which are like bubbles
on a stream, and gaining firm recognition that the effects of my white and black actions will
follow me after death like my body's shadow, I ask blessing to take care always to avoid even
the subtlest fault and to accomplish all that is virtuous.
Aware of the disadvantages of worldly goods - (for they are) unsatisfying when consumed,
untrustworthy, and the door to all suffering - I ask blessing to generate the great striving: for
the bliss of liberation.
I ask blessing to take as my essential practice the guidelines of individual liberation
(Pratimoksha vows), which are the root of the Dharma, (and to do so) with the great care of
mindfulness and introspection induced by that pure thought (renouncing cyclic existence and
striving for liberation).
Seeing that, just as I have fallen into the ocean of cyclic existence, so too have all
transmigrating beings who have been my mothers, I ask blessing to develop the supreme
thought of enlightenment which takes on the burden of liberating transmigrating beings.
Seeing that if I generate just the thought (of enlightenment) and do not cultivate the three types
of (Bodhisattva) morality, I will not attain enlightenment, I ask blessing to train assiduously in
the vows of the Conquerors' children (Bodhisattvas).
I ask blessing to generate quickly in my mind-stream the union of calm abiding and insight,
through pacifying (a mind) that strays toward false objects, and investigating properly the
ultimate object (Emptiness).
When I have become a (suitable spiritual) vessel, trained in the common (Perfection Vehicle)
path, I ask blessing happily to enter the highest of all vehicles, the Vajrayana, the holy crossing-
boat for fortunate beings.
Gaining then genuine certainty (that I must guard) the pure (tantric) vows that are the foundation
of accomplishing (worldly and transcendent) attainments, I ask blessing to guard (these vows) at
the risk of my life.
Understanding then the essentials of the (generation and completion) stages that are the heart of
the (four) classes of tantra, I ask blessing to practise according to the teachings of the Holy Ones,
without neglecting to practise yoga in four sessions (daily).
May virtuous (teachers) who show the good path and friends who practise it properly have a
long life. I ask blessing swiftly to pacify all outer and inner hindrances.
In all my lives, may I never be apart from the perfect Master, and may I enjoy the splendor of
the Dharma. Having perfected the good qualities of the (ten Bodhisattva) levels and the (five)
Paths, may I quickly obtain the rank of Vajradhara.”
____________________
On first reading, the above prayer would appear to have no relation to astrology. It is a prayer that is
found in esoteric Buddhist (Vajrayana) practices, and it describes the stages of the path to full
enlightenment from the perspective of esoteric Buddhism. But, on closer examination we find
certain peculiarities and begin to notice a pattern: This prayer does have undertones that relate it to
the stages of the twelve signs of Western astrology, especially with regard to the spiritual
evolutionary process through the twelve signs. What follows is meant to be suggestive only. This
little article relates esoteric astrology2 to esoteric Buddhism only in a very broad sense. The stanzas
of the prayer are taken each separately and compared to the twelve signs of the zodiac as we now
have them in the West, with key phrases and ideas, taken as reflective/meditative seeds. The stanzas
that relate to astrology are those which contain the words, “I ask blessing…”, of which there are
twelve. The shamatha diagram, below, is also related to the twelve signs, which can also be taken as
seed into meditation. Esoteric Astrology, from Alice A. Bailey, was transmitted from a Buddhist
lama, and in the following we can perhaps see how Buddhist principles infuse the main concepts in
esoteric astrology. To try to keep esoteric astrology as somehow distinct from Buddhist or universal
principles, and especially meditative practices, is a mistake, and needs to be investigated fully if we
seek to gain a true understanding of the basis of esoteric astrology.
Seeing that the kind, holy guru is the
foundation of all good qualities, and
that proper reliance on one is the root
of the path, I ask blessing to rely on one
with great respect (born) of constant
effort.
Ü
Foundation: the beginning of the Path,
commencement of efforts, the start of a new
path
Proper reliance, good mental qualities: Mercury, mars, Uranus
Constant effort: Mars
Understanding the rarity and great
significance of this (human body) that is
the wonderful basis of an opportunity
obtained just once, I ask blessing to
generate uninterruptedly, all day and
night, the mind that takes up what is
essential (to attain Buddhahood).
Ý
Human body: Taurus/Venus
To generate uninterruptedly: Vulcan,
generating the vision of, or lighting the
Path, working uninterruptedly
The mind that takes up what is essential to attain Buddhahood: Venus, Vulcan
Remembering that death will swiftly
destroy my wavering body and life,
which are like bubbles on a stream,
and gaining firm recognition that the
effects of my white and black actions
will follow me after death like my
body's shadow, I ask blessing to take
care always to avoid even the subtlest
fault and to accomplish all that is
virtuous.
‚
Wavering body and life: Mercury
White and black: the pairs of opposites
Swiftness: Gemini and Mercury
Avoiding even the subtlest fault: Mercury
Accomplishing all that is virtuous:
examining carefully the pairs of opposites
Aware of the disadvantages of
worldly goods - (for they are)
unsatisfying when consumed,
untrustworthy, and the door to all
suffering - I ask blessing to generate
the great striving: for the bliss of
liberation.
ƒ
Seeking security in material objects and
temporal affairs: the trap for Cancer
The door to all suffering: Cancer as the entry into human existence
The great striving for the bliss of
liberation: Neptune, the planet that embodies bliss and the planet that leads to liberation
I ask blessing to take as my essential
practice the guidelines of individual
liberation (Pratimoksha vows), which
are the root of the Dharma, (and to do
so) with the great care of mindfulness
and introspection induced by that
pure thought (renouncing cyclic
existence and striving for liberation).
„
Guidelines of individual liberation: self-
discipline and individual liberation, the keynote of Leo
Introspection: another Leo keynote
Seeing that, just as I have fallen into
the ocean of cyclic existence, so too
have all transmigrating beings who
have been my mothers, I ask blessing
to develop the supreme thought of
enlightenment which takes on the
burden of liberating transmigrating
beings.
…
Who have been my mothers: Virgo is the
sign of the Great Mother
Taking on the burden: a typical note of Virgo
Liberating transmigrating beings:
Liberation, whether through death or other
means, is ultimately healing. Virgo is
known for its keynote of healing
Seeing that if I generate just the
thought (of enlightenment) and do not
cultivate the three types of
(Bodhisattva) morality, I will not
attain enlightenment, I ask blessing to
train assiduously in the vows of the
Conquerors' children (Bodhisattvas).
†
The three types of bodhisattva mentality:
These relate to the Libran keynotes of the
law, sex and money. The three types of
bodhisattva mentality liberate one from
anger, desire and ignorance, which in turn
have correspondences with law, sex and
money.
I ask blessing to generate quickly in
my mind-stream the union of calm
abiding and insight, through
pacifying (a mind) that strays toward
false objects, and investigating
properly the ultimate object
(Emptiness).
‡
Generating quickly the union of calm
abiding and insight: Relates both to Mars
and Mercury, and these in turn lead to
pacification of the mind through the mental
conflict engendered by focusing on emptiness
instead of the myriad factors upon which the
mind loves to focus instead.
When I have become a (suitable
spiritual) vessel, trained in the
common (Perfection Vehicle) path, I
ask blessing happily to enter the
highest of all vehicles, the Vajrayana,
the holy crossing-boat for fortunate
beings.
ˆ
Becoming a suitable vessel: the idealism of
Sagittarius. Training in the Common Path
relates to the previous signs.
Happily entering the highest of all vehicles:
the joy of Sagittarius, striving for the highest
The holy crossing boat: the arrow of
Sagittarius, which launches one toward full
enlightenment
Gaining then genuine certainty (that I
must guard) the pure (tantric) vows
that are the foundation of
accomplishing (worldly and
transcendent) attainments, I ask
blessing to guard (these vows) at the
risk of my life. ‰
Gaining genuine certainty: the first
attainment of the full experience of emptiness
(Capricorn) combined with great bliss. All
doubt is thus removed as to the path and the
way forward.
Tantric vows: foundation, as a reference to
Saturn, and the seriousness of those vows.
Saturn also reveals the risk of making bad
decisions, and the necessity of guarding one’s
motivation assiduously
Worldly and transcendent attainments:
Capricorn, as the sign that most represents
attainment and success, either material or
spiritual.
Understanding then the essentials of
the (generation and completion) stages
that are the heart of the (four) classes
of tantra, I ask blessing to practise
according to the teachings of the Holy
Ones, without neglecting to practise
yoga in four sessions (daily).
Š
Essentials of the generation and
completion stages: These relate to the careful
building of the forms as represented in the
generation stage, and then taking the winds
into the heart and dissolving them. Aquarius
represents this stage of taking the winds into
the heart, being an air sign. This is at the
heart of the four classes of tantra. This is also
the opposite pole of Leo, with its emphasis on
self-discipline.
May virtuous (teachers) who show
the good path and friends who
practise it properly have a long
life. I ask blessing swiftly to pacify
outer and inner hindrances.
‹
Ask blessing to swiftly pacify all outer and
inner hindrances: Pluto’s action through
Pisces, and the final dissolution of all
hindrances to full enlightenment. This
follows upon the stage of Aquarius.
_____________________
The cardinal signs (The cross of commencement, or new efforts): the commencement of
effort, the commencement of the great striving for liberation, the commencement of training
in vows and bodhisattva principles, and the commencement of the Path of Seeing, or the
third initiation – Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, respectively
The fixed signs (The cross of discipline and determined effort): generating (disciplining)
the mind of enlightenment uninterruptedly, taking on self-discipline, thorough pacification of
the mind through the discipline of the union of calm abiding and insight, the discipline of the
practice of yogic retreat – Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, respectively
The mutable signs (The cross on the shoulders – seeing the true nature of suffering and
the release from it): seeing the necessity of stilling the wavering mind and life, seeing the
necessity of generating bodhichitta (which sees the suffering of all sentient beings and seeks
to liberate them), seeing the necessity of becoming a suitable vessel for entry into the higher
path, seeing the necessity of pacifying all outer and inner hindrances to enlightenment .
Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, respectively.
The fire signs (the path of fiery reliance): reliance upon the guru (reliance upon a proper
example as a way forward), reliance upon self-discipline as an ensured way forward, reliance
upon the path of esoteric Buddhism – Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, respectively
The earth signs (the formation of the bases): Forming the basis for the path of
enlightenment, forming the basis for the bodhisattva path, forming the basis for the path to
Buddhahood (full enlightenment) – Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, respectively
The air signs (recognition of the bases and the mental attitudes needed for
enlightenment): the recognition of the pairs of opposites and the need for virtuous action,
the recognition of the basis of the three obstructions to enlightenment and the need to
assiduous training, the recognition of the basis for the final efforts toward enlightenment –
Gemini, Libra and Aquarius, respectively
The water signs (release from suffering): recognition of the basis of suffering, recognition
of the basis of distraction from the path, recognition of the final obstructions to omniscience
– Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, respectively
Aries/Libra (the axis of ‘turning’): commencement of the path of aspiration (Aries), and
commencement of the bodhisattva path (path of selfless service, Libra) Consideration of self
and others as to direction on the path.
Taurus/Scorpio (the axis of determined effort): fixing the mind on the desired path
(Taurus) and fixing the mind on the ultimate object/objective (Scorpio)
Gemini/Sagittarius (the axis of cultivation): cultivating the path of ethics by seeing the
subtle faults in one’s nature (Gemini) and cultivating the path of ultimate release (becoming
a ‘suitable vessel via the Common path) in Sagittarius
Cancer/Capricorn (the axis of liberation): cultivating the desire for the bliss of liberation
(Cancer) and cultivating the desire for the blissful liberation of others (Capricorn) . One rises
above the worldly path in Cancer as an ultimate attainment and then above samsara in
Capricorn as an ultimate attainment.
Leo/Aquarius (the axis of disciplined effort): taking on the discipline of individual vows
for the path (Leo) and taking on the discipline of the renunciation for others (Aquarius)
Virgo/Pisces (the axis of taking ultimate release): realizing the path of service for all
beings (Virgo) and becoming the path of service to all beings (Pisces). The Piscean path,
being the last stage, marks one’s becoming the kind, holy guru, which becomes the basis for
others to follow in Aries, beginning anew.
1 Lozang Chokyi Gyaltsen, Yon tan gzir gyur ma. Lozang Chokyi Gyaltsen (བློ་བཟང་ཆློས་ཀྱི་རྒྱལ་མཚན)
was the 4th Pancen Lama of the Gelugpa tradition in Tibet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobsang_Ch%C3%B6kyi_Gyaltsen,_4th_Panchen_Lama 2 Bailey, Alice A, Esoteric Astrology, Lucis Publishing
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